Sunday NFL Insider: Romo came from out of nowhere

Tony Romo's spring of 2013 was a tad more lucrative than his spring of 2003.

Eight months ago, the Cowboys quarterback signed a six-year, $108 million extension with $55 million in guaranteed money.

And 10 years before that?

"I was a very sought-after [rookie] free agent," Romo, tongue firmly in cheek, told Twin Cities reporters on Wednesday.

Romo said he had nibbles from 15 to 20 NFL teams immediately after the 2003 draft. Of course, as Romo noted, that interest level came from 15 to 20 teams, "that really didn't like [me] enough the previous 48 hours."

So, Tony, what did the Cowboys have to fork over to get the late-bloomer from Eastern Illinois? Five hundred bucks?

"Yeah, I made a little more than that," he said. "I think it was 10 grand, actually, which felt like a year's paycheck coming out of college. It was nice."

Heading into Sunday's game against the Vikings, Romo ranks fifth in passer rating (101.7) behind only Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers.

Romo is 59-42 heading into his 102nd NFL start. Among quarterbacks through 100 starts, Romo ranks No. 1 in completions (2,262) and passing yards (27,485). He also ranks third in touchdown passes (189) behind only Dan Marino (214) and Brett Favre (194).

In that 2003 draft, 32 teams made 262 selections. Thirteen quarterbacks were selected. Only one of them — Carson Palmer, selected No. 1 overall by the Bengals — ever made a Pro Bowl. Romo has made three.

The other quarterbacks selected in the first round that year were Byron Leftwich (seventh), Kyle Boller (19th) and Rex Grossman (22nd). Later rounds saw names such as Chris Simms, Senaca Wallace, Brian St. Pierre, Brooks Bollinger, Drew Henson and Kliff Kingsbury.

"I think more than anything, I was just very raw," Romo said. "[The scouts] were all right. But at the end of the day, they just didn't see the things that can separate you."

"I think sometimes only certain people can evaluate the quarterback position at a high level," Romo said. "I think it's a very tough thing to do because there are so many things that go into it. And I think it's a difficult position to gauge. Just [the offensive] system alone dictates differing decision-making processes and I think that unless you're really the guy coaching him and teaching him, you don't necessarily know his strengths and negatives."

So what's the one trait Romo would look for if he were in charge of drafting a quarterback coming out of college?

"Instincts," he said. "Just their ability to get through progressions at a fast rate. You can always work on accuracy, you can always work on footwork. You can get guys to do the right things and be leaders and all that stuff. But inherently what you can't teach him is to see the field quickly, react quickly and get through stuff fast. That's where I find that [teams] just miss the mark the most times with young guys."

Northern Intelligence
The Packers were formed in 1919, so they've played a few games over the years. Last week's victory over the Vikings marked only the second time in franchise history that they have had a 75-yard touchdown catch and a 90-yard punt return for a touchdown in the same game.

The only other time they have done it was against Tampa Bay on Oct. 2, 1983. The last NFL team to do it was the 49ers back on Nov. 21, 1988.

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler won't start Monday against the Packers. But is that good or bad? Yeah, he's better than Josh McCown. But … Cutler is 1-7 vs. the Packers with nine touchdown passes, 16 interceptions and a 61.5 passer rating.

Of course, Matt Forte isn't any better against the Pack. Forte averages 51.7 yards per game and 3.4 yards per carry when he faces Green Bay. Come to think of it, the whole Bears team struggles against the Packers. Green Bay has won six in a row, including an NFC title game, while holding Chicago to just seven offensive touchdowns.

• • •

The Lions, who have a bye, are the first team since the 2003 Vikings to have an 800-yard receiver and a running back with 800 total yards through eight games, according to Stats LLC.

Receiver Calvin Johnson, coming off a 329-yard outing against Dallas, has 821 yards. Running back Reggie Bush has 853 total yards (518 rushing, 335 receiving). In 2003, the Vikings had Randy Moss with 878 yards receiving and running back Moe Williams with 801 total yards. Scott Linehan was Vikings offensive coordinator in 2003 and is now Detroit's OC.
Three observations …

• Safety Tyrann Mathieu, the Cardinals' third-round draft pick and the most controversial figure in this year's draft, is one of six NFL players with at least two interceptions, a sack and a forced fumble. He was named NFL defensive rookie of the month for October.

• Peyton Manning's fourth-quarter passer rating: 122.3, No. 1. Eli Manning's fourth-quarter passer rating: 40.9, No. 38.

Two predictions …

• The Bills are tough enough at home – beating Baltimore and Carolina and losing to New England and Cincinnati by a combined five points — to hand the Chiefs their first loss of the season.